Emi Buendia is a player who Leeds United have liked all year long, and finally it looks as though Daniel Farke could yet get his man.
Emi Buendia and Daniel Farke’s relationship stretches right back to their time at Norwich City. It was at Carrow Road where Buendia shone in the Championship, earning himself a £33million move to Aston Villa in 2021.
Then at the start of the year, Farke tried to sign Buendia on loan from Aston Villa. The Argentine was out of favour at Villa Park, but instead joined Bayer Leverkusen. However, going into this summer, Leverkusen turned down the chance to sign Buendia.
Leeds United meanwhile were promoted, and soon after their links to Buendia were reignited. Rather unexpectedly though, Buendia has played himself back into contention at Aston Villa.
The 28-year-old starred in pre-season and it seemed as though Leeds United quickly turned their attentions elsewhere. With a new number 10 still looking like a vital addition before the September 3rd deadline, Buendia may remain on Farke’s radar, and the door may have just reopened for the Whites.
Emi Buendia smiles while warming up for Bayer Leverkusen.
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Leeds United transfer target Emi Buendia unused in Aston Villa opener
Speaking to Leeds United News recently, transfer expert Graeme Bailey shared the latest on Buendia’s situation at Aston Villa. Bailey explained that Buendia has in fact played himself back into Unai Emery’s plans, but that if he doesn’t feature in the opening two Premier League games of the season, then he will likely come back onto the transfer market ahead of the final week of the window.
Bailey said: “The no.10 position is fascinating. There’s still so many that are available. Leeds like Buendia, but I’m told by Villa sources that Buendia is playing himself back in contention there. But if the season starts and he doesn’t play in the first two games, he comes back into the window.”
And Buendia didn’t start and didn’t feature at all during Aston Villa’s Premier League opener against Newcastle United over the weekend. Buendia was an unused sub as Villa drew 0-0 at home to Newcastle. Meanwhile, on Monday night, Leeds United beat Everton 1-0 to secure themselves an opening day win.
Aston Villa Training and Press Conference
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Emi Buendia’s impressive stats for Aston Villa in pre-season
Despite Aston Villa failing to score past Newcastle over the weekend, Unai Emery chose to keep Buendia on the bench. It was a surprising decision and given the fact that Buendia does have Premier League quality in his boots and especially so given the fact that the Argentinian international was a key player for the Villans during pre-season.
Buendia featured six times and scored two goals, also grabbing himself one assist. It comes after a relatively decent loan spell in the Bundesliga with Leverkusen. Although Xabi Alonso used Buendia as a rotational player, he still managed to feature 11 times in the Bundesliga in the second half of the last season, scoring twice.
Games Goals Assists
Buendia in pre-season 6 2 1
But for Villa, Buendia performing in pre-season may well have set them up for a substantial player sale in Buendia this summer. Expect Villa to want back most of what they paid for the player and his impressive pre-season will only have helped put him in the shop window.
Leeds meanwhile remain in desperate need of attacking additions and Buendia being someone that Farke knows and has long wanted to sign, could be the marquee signing to finish off their summer window.
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